Winston ready for prime-time test

Jameis Winston is excited about the next challenge in the maturation of the young Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a prime-time test against Tom

Brady and the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

“Really just a blessing for me personally,” the 23-yearold quarterback said, looking ahead to Thursday night’s matchup at Raymond James Stadium, where the up-andcoming Bucs (2-1) have won six straight going back to last season.

New England (2-2) enters the match searching for answers on defense, trying to avoid falling below .500 beyond the second week of a season for the first time since 2012.

“I don’t like talking about me, but to get a chance to witness greatness in front of us with Tom Brady coming into town, it gets you pumped up,” Winston added.

Giants trying to make things easier

The New York Giants are going to simplify things in an effort to get a win.

While coach Ben McAdoo wouldn’t say precisely how the Giants would change for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium, but it’s obvious that he is trying to take some pressure off his team and to get them to play more instinctively.

If there has been a common thread in the 0-4 start, it’s been that players are hesitating on some plays and pressing on others. There seems to be no comfort level, where players just fly around and make plays.

“I think (McAdoo) is trying to tell us not to press,” tackle Justin Pugh said. “When you get down into a hole, 0-4, and you get down in game and everyone is trying to make that big play or that big block, just go and do your job. Keep it stupid, simple. That’s the old saying, and that’s what we are going to do.”

Miami coach says Dolphins running out of excuses

Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase shot down chemistry issues as the reason his offense has struggled with just two touchdowns and no fieldgoal attempts in the past two weeks.

Quarterback Jay Cutler, signed out of a threemonth retirement, is only two months in as the team’s starter.

Gase said that’s not a legitimate reason for the sluggish performance.